Don`t Cut Tamarac Bus Service, Residents Tell County

August 14, 1985|By Jon Caroulis, Staff Writer

TAMARAC — Saying Broward County government has an obligation to provide public transportation no matter what the cost, residents Thursday will try to persuade county officials from reducing bus service in the city.

The County Commission is scheduled to adopt a new transit route system that will eliminate one route in Tamarac and reduce the service provided by another route.

About 100 residents attended a meeting Tuesday with county transportation officials and City Council members.

``I think the county should be concerned with the issue of service and not with the dollar sign,`` said Sol Robinson, a resident. ``Service depends on the need of the individual. The route should be there not because the bus is full, but it should be there for the person who needs it.``

Under the county`s proposal, the No. 82 route that runs east-west along Commercial Boulevard, north-south on University Drive and a circuitous path west of Pine Island Road, would be eliminated. It would be replaced with a new route that would serve fewer areas than the No. 82.

Also under proposal, the No. 30 route would be cut back in the city`s west side.

Glen Margoles, manager of planning and scheduling for the county`s Mass Transit Department, said cutbacks were based on passenger surveys taken during the past four years.

He said the No. 82 route averaged only one rider per run.

``We have limited resources and we can only put them where they`ll be most used,`` Margoles said. He said the changes would not save money but would provide more service to more people throughout the county.

But Tamarac residents being affected by the cuts said they depended on public transportation to do food shopping and other chores.

Bernie Hart, president of the city`s President`s Council, said, ``If an area has no fires the county doesn`t say, `Let`s cut out the Fire Department.` If an area has no crime, they don`t say, `Let`s cut out the Police Department.` We have to let the commissioners know how we feel.``

Louis Schiff, president of the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce, said the county could lose money with the cutbacks. He said without service to transport customers, businesses might fail and the county would lose tax revenue.

Council member Ray Munitz said, ``A lot of people are going to suffer if the service is eliminated. People do use it. The question is what can we do about it between now and Thursday, to convince the commissioners the health, safety and welfare of the people is at stake.``

Both Munitz and Mayor Philip Kravitz suggested the county postpone the vote. Kravitz said he would try to contact commission members on the matter.

The city will provide bus service to residents wishing to attend the County Commission meeting. Residents can reserve a seat on the bus, which is scheduled to depart from City Hall at 9 a.m., by calling 722-5900.